Chapter 54

Half a day's journey from Guanaca lies  a mountain range, whose highest peak stretches above the clouds and would be visible from space, if space-travel had been invented. It is said that the Gods live, or used to live at that peak, though no-one can know for sure, since no-one has ever managed to make it that far.

A pass run through these mountains. Any traveler who wishes to enter the Eastern Continent via land, rather than taking the longer and often perilous sea-route, must traverse this pass in order to reach their destination.

When they start out, the traveler will no doubt find  the journey is easy, sometimes even pleasant: The Road is wide and well-maintained and there are plenty of inns in which the traveler can their weary bones and eat a bite, should they have the funds and inclination to do so.  It does not take long though, before the road becomes harder to travel and finding an inn is a fool's errand. 

The Caravan Risha and Miriam had joined up with was on the fourth day of its journey and had just managed to fight off an attack from a group of bandits. Drunk on the success of a previous raid, the bandits had thought that this caravan would be easy pickings as well and, as such, had swept down on it, yelling and waving their sabers.

To the surprise of the highwaymen, they soon found themselves overwhelmed by their intended victims; several of them fell in battle, while the survivors fled with their tails tucked between their legs. Returning to their hideout, in order to lick their wounds and await the arrival of an easier target, one that showed the good sportsmanship of simply surrendering.

Risha watched the surviving bandits take off and then bent down and wiped her dagger on the grass. A shadow fell over her. She turned around and saw that it was Kiros, the mountain lion who served as the leader for the caravan's guard.

"I'm impressed" the leader said, putting his scimitar back into its scabbard. "You handled that blade with no small amount of skill, for a woman. Who is your teacher?"

Risha looked at him with surprise; this was the first time that Kiros had spoken directly to her.

"My father thought me the basics when I was younger", the female lynx replied, deciding to ignore the 'for a woman' part of the unexpected compliment paid to her.

 "He did not really give me regular lessons though", she continued. "My mother did not approve and besides, I don't think either of them ever excepted that I would be in a situation where I had to kill to protect myself."

Kiros  nodded thoughtfully, while his long fingers massaged his chin.

"I see...in other words, you are a natural. I could have use for a woman like you on my crew, if you are interested?"

"Perhaps, but I did promise my friend to be her guest in her village when we get there."

"Not to worry, the caravan will remain in that village for three days. You may inform me of your decision the night before we depart."

*****

The Day after their battle with the bandits, the caravan had a far more unusual encounter. Miriam was the first to notice it; the caravan was proceeding forward at a steady pace and everything seemed calm, when she suddenly let out a surprised gasp, prompting Risha to ask what it was.

"Look!" Miriam exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "Up there!"

Risha followed the direction of Miriam's pointing finger and when she what it was aimed at, her eyes doubled in size and a soft curse escaped her lips. Standing on a cliff above them was a creature that she had never excepted to see in real life.

The Yeti's fur was the color of newly fallen snow, a tattered red cape was draped over its broad shoulders and around its neck hung a necklace made out of teeth.

It did not take long before the rest of the caravan noticed the yeti and they, too, stopped in their tracks to stare at it, with a look of apprehension on their faces. 

This reaction was only to be excepted: The Yeti are among the World's most ancient races. However, unlike, say dragons, they tend to keep to themselves and rarely interact with the rest of the World; preferring the solitude of their mountain homes. Because of this, very little is known about the yeti and as a consequence, they are a people shrouded in myth. One of these myths (that may have a grain of truth to it) is that, although their primary source of nourishment is the bark of a tree that only grows at a high altitude, they also have a taste for the flesh of sentient beings.

Kiros turned to his men.

"Keep your weapons ready" he ordered, "but make no sudden moves."

The Yeti's eyes were dark like a night devoid of moon and stars and when its gaze passed over Risha, she could feel every single hair on her body stand on end. Instinctively, she bared her claws, while the fingers of her left paw tightened around her dagger.

Then, just as everyone prepared for the inevitable attack, the yeti let out a grunting noise, shrugged its shoulders and, having apparently lost interest in the creatures below, turned around and climbed up the mountain from whence it had come.

A wave of relief washed over the caravan, nerves that had been taut like bowstrings relaxed. Some even made a few disparaging remarks at the yeti's expense, which was met with general laughter. However, this did not prevent them from occasionally casting anxious glances up toward the mist-covered mountains, as the caravan continued on its journey.